site.btaMEP Radan Kanev: Bulgaria’s Chance to Keep Up with Regional Growth Is in Its Active and Reasonable European Membership

The chance for Bulgaria chance to keep up with the times and develop its regions is in its active and reasonable European membership, in seeing Europe not just as money for pavements, which is not small, but as economic opportunities. This is what MEP Radan Kanev said in an interview with BTA in Strasbourg, on the sidelines of the last plenary sitting of the European Parliament before the elections between June 6 and 9.

Bulgaria has many towns where business is developing and therefore the local community is developing much better than 10-20 years ago, said Kanev. In his words, this is the result of good governance and management of EU funds.

Six elections in just over three years sounds like a world record, Kanev noted. He expressed hope that enough of the citizens who want Bulgaria to develop faster will understand that the political crisis will continue if they do not vote. In his words, the political crisis is due to the forces that do not want change.

The European Parliament elections are traditionally very majoritarian, Kanev said, adding that he thinks the "2-in-1" elections are likely to increase turnout.

There will be more far-right parties in the next European Parliament, he believes. It will certainly be very difficult to negotiate. Intensive negotiations will be required to gather any majority, Kanev said. Europe must change towards more security for its citizens, more solutions in common defence and more protection of external borders, he added.

Regarding his meetings with students, the MEP pointed out that young people have the awareness that European politics is long-term. Unlike the Bulgarian Parliament, which usually takes decisions that will matter next week, in the European Parliament decisions are taken that will matter in the next 20-25 years, when these young people will be at the helm, Kanev said.